Closure cap device



Nov. 15, 1966 A. E. WAGNER 3,235,453

CLOSURE CAP DEVICE Filed Oct. 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 15, 1966 A. E. WAGNER CLOSURE CAP DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1964 WWI/ll! m m E V m A5. WAGA/E L BY J q ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,285,453 CLOSURE CAP DEVICE Arnaldo E. Wagner, 615 Sargento Cabral St., Godoy Cruz, Mendoza, Argentina Filed Oct. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 401,493 1 Claim. (Cl. 215-77) The present invention relates to a closure cap device for a container either of the rigid type, such as a bottle, or of the collapsible type, such as a tube used for instance for tooth paste. More particularly, the closure cap device may be built as a separate unit or may be integral with the container.

Furthermore, the closure cap device of the present invention may be used, both in connection with liquids, particularly when applied to rigid containers, such as bottles, as well as with extrudible pasty materials such as, for example, tooth paste, ointments, beauty creams, usually supplied in collapsible tubular containers.

Heretofore the rigid containers, such as bottles, are usually provided with a cork or the like closure member or a crown cap which latter is generally used in carbonated drinks. It is well known that the corks or similar closure members are easily lost and as far as the crown caps are concerned, in addition they are not sealingly refittable on a partially empty container.

With regard to the collapsible containers, they usually comprise an extrusion nozzle provided with a screwclosure cap having an imperforate top, where-by said cap has had to be removed every time it was desired to squeeze some of the contents out of the container. Besides being troublesome, this circumstance frequently led to the losing of the closure cap, so that in many cases the container with its content had to be discarded.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a closure cap device, wherein a perforated cap is screwed onto a spout member and is in sealing relationship therewith so that upon slig-htly unscrewing said cap on said spout member, it is possible to discharge the content of the container without having to remove the cap from the container. By tightly screwing the cap again onto the spout, the remaining content in the container is again sealed off the outside and means are provided to assure that no leakage takes place between said spout and the cap when screwing the cap onto the spout to produce the sealing of the two members.

In a more developed embodiment additional means are provided to make it impossible to totally unscrew the cap from the spout member.

In a still further developed arrangement, the closure cap device of the present invention includes a valve member forming part of the spout and being anchored therein, which is particularly useful in combination with the expenditure of pasty material used in collapsible containers.

More particularly, the closure cap device of the present invention comprises a tubular spout member having a socket portion defining a first open end which may either be integral with the container or be fit onto the mouth of the container. The socket portion being at least in its upper portion externally screw threaded. The spout further comprises a side wall member integral with said socket portion and having a cross-sectional area smaller than said socket portion and a second tapered closed end, usually of frustoconical shape, which is perforated and through the perforations of which the content of the container is to be discharged. On the socket member a perforated cap is screwed, which cap surrounds the side wall member and at least that part of said second tapered closed end which includes the perforations. A

sealing lip is either integral with said cap and in sealing contact with the outside face of said side wall member 3,285,453 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 "ice or said sealing lip is integral with said side wall member and in sealing contact with said cap, whereby it is avoided that any substance which has been discharged through the perforations of the tapered closed end can leak along the side wall member and cap and thereby dirty the outside of the container.

Instead of providing the second tapered closed end in the spout member the latter may have a second open end in which a valve member is slidably anchored, which valve member is capable of closing said second open end, upon said cap, which at least partially surrounds said valve member presses the latter onto the wall defining said second open end.

The type of embodiment including a valve member is preferred for pasty materials, because upon said cap pressing on said Walve member, the portion of the pasty material in said socket is pressed backward into the container, thereby providing the necessary arrangement for forming a good seal, as will be later better understood.

So as to facilitate the comprehension of the present invention, reference will now be made to several specific embodiments, by way of example, in relationship to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a first embodiment of a closure cap device, in accordance with present invention, wherein the cap is shown in the sealing position.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of a second embodiment of a closure cap device, in accordance with the present invention, wherein the cap is shown in open position.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of a third embodiment of a closure cap device, in accordance with the present invention, wherein the cap is shown in open position.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of a fourth embodi ment of a closure cap device including a valve member and wherein the spout member is integral with a tubular collapsible container, the closure cap device being shown in an open position.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of a fifth embodiment of a closure cap device including a valve member and wherein the spout member is integral with a tubular collapsible container, the valve member including means to avoid the withdrawal of the cap and is further developed as far as the anchoring arrangement of the valve member with regard to the spout member is concerned, as compared with the embodiment of FIG. 4. In FIG. 5 the closure cap device is shown in closed position.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section of the same closure cap device as shown in FIG. 5 but in open position.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the valve member used in the closure cap device of the embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 is a detail in longitudinal section, showing an alternative applicable to all the five embodiments hereinbefore disclosed.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, wherein a first embodiment of the closure cap device according to the present invention is shown, the latter comprises a tubular spout member 1 having a stepped base portion 2 which may be fit onto the container (not shown) or already being an integral part thereof. The base portion 2 is integral with a socket portion 3 being externally screw threaded, as shown at 4, and integral with a smooth side wall portion 5, the cross-sectional area of which is smaller than said socket portion 3. Since the base portion may or may not exist, depending whether the tubular spout member is an integral portion or not of the container, it may be stated that the socket portion defines a first open end 6. The upper end portion of the side wall member 5 ends in a second tapered closed end and more particularly consists in a sloped of frustoconical wall portion 7 having perforations 8 and a closed horizontal top portion 9. In this embodiment it is preferred to have a rigid spout member 1, for instance made of metal. A cap 10 having a skirt portion 11 and a sloped top portion 12 complementary to the sloped wall portion 7 and a perforated top 13 substantially complementary to the top portion 9 is screwed onto the screw threaded portion 4. More particularly, the skirt portion 11 has a lower internal screw threaded portion 14 which meshes with the screw thread 4. Between the sloped top portion 12 and the screw threaded portion 14, a sealing lip 15 resiliently engages the smooth side wall portion 5. The cap 10 is preferably made of flexible plastic material.

In the position shown in FIG. 1 where the sloped top portion 12 of the cap 10 is seated on the sloped wall portion 7, the perforations 8 are sealed. Upon partially unscrewing cap 10 on tubular spout member 1, the top portion 12 is raised with regard to the wall portion 7, thereby defining a space through which the content to be discharged may be evacuated passing through the perforations 8 and perforated top 13 to the outside. Since the sealing lip 15 is in sealing contact with the side wall portion 5, the product which is being discharged cannot leak along the skirt portion 11 and screw thread 4 and lower internal screw threaded portion 14, to dirty the container.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, which is substantially similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1 and wherein the same reference numerals have been used but preceded by the prefix 100, the outstanding difference resides in that the sealing lip 115 is integral with the spout member 101 in the confluence of the side wall portion 105 and sloped wall portion 107. Since the sealing lip should be made of resilient material, in this embodiment the spout member 101 is made of plastic material and the cap 110 is made of a rigid material, for instance wood. Since the remaining features are substantially similar with regard to the embodiment described in connection with FIG. 1, it is not considered necessary to be more specific about the embodiment of FIG. 2.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 which is substantially similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the same reference numerals have been used as in FIG. 1 but preceded by the prefix 200.

The stepped base portion 202 is internally screw threaded, as identified by reference numeral 216, which could be used for instance to screw the spout member 202 onto a threaded bottle neck of a bottle (not shown).

The sealing lip 215 has a flat base portion 217 which defines a stop in combination with an annual rim 218 integral with the cap 210. Since the tubular spout member 201 is made of plastic material and the cap 210 of rigid material, it is possible to force the cap 210 with the annular rim 218 over the sealing lip 215 upon assembling the cap 210 with the tubular spout member 201. Once this has been achieved, the annular rim 218 will be able to slide along the side wall portion 205 to define a top open position, as shown in FIG. 3, where the annular rim 218 abuts against the flat base portion 217. Thus, to distinguish over the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, in the embodiment of FIG. 3 it is not possible to totally unscrew the cap 210 from the tubular spout member 201, avoiding thus its possible loss.

A further developed arrangement, as already previously stated, which includes a valve member, and which is preferably used for pasty material, is disclosed in FIG. 4, corresponding to the fourth embodiment. Here again the same reference numerals have been used as in FIG. 1, to. identify similar parts, but preceded by the prefix 300.

In this embodiment the tubular spout member 301 forms an integral part of a tube 319 of the collapsible type and therefore the previously referred to stepped base portion 2 is, in this embodiment, the frustoconical head 4 portion 302 of the tube 319. The socket portion 303 includes, as the previous embodiments, a screw thread 304 and a smooth side wall portion 305, which directly ends in an open flat top portion 309 defining a substantial opening 320.

The cap 310 has a skirt portion 311 and a sloped top portion 312 defining a perforated top 313. The lower portion of the skirt 311 includes an internal screw threaded portion 314 above which a sealing lip 315 exists which is in sealing and slidable contact with a smooth side wall portion 305.

A valve member 321, having a valve head 322 including a frustoconical top portion 323 complementary to the sloped top portion 312 and perforated top 313 of the cap 310, is arranged above the horizontal top portion 309 with which it can enter in sealing contact by means of its fiat bottom rim 324. The valve head 322 has in this embodiment three downwardly projecting anchoring legs 325 each including a foot portion 326 defining an anchoring means.

Since the spout member 301, is of rather rigid material, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, that it is easy to insert the rather flexible anchoring legs 325 through the opening 320,, so that the foot portions 326 are capable of abutting with the inner face of the top portion 309, to thereby define the maximum aperture of the valve member 321. Since the maximum cross-sectional area of the valve head 322 is smaller than that of the smooth side wall portion 305, it will be readily understood that the content of the tube 319 usually pasty material, can be squeezed out of the tube 319, passing through opening 320 and pushing the valve head 322 upward, provided that the cap 310 is in the loosened position. Upon tightening the cap 310 on the socket portion 303, the sloped top portion 312 will press on the frustoconical top portion 323 until the flat bottom rim 324 becomes sealingly seated on the top portion 309, thereby sealing the container from outside.

The fifth embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 is based on the structure of the fourth embodiment, but including similar improvements as the third embodiment shown in FIG. 3 includes, with regard to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The reference numerals used in FIGS. 5 to 7 are the same as those used in FIG. 4 but instead of being preceded by the prefix 300, are preceded by the prefix 400.

In this embodiment the sealing lip 415 is integral with the flat base portion 417, all of which forms obviously an integral part of the cap 410. As may be best seen in FIG. 7, the valve head 422 has four angularly spaced apart projecting ears 427 and which define the maximum cross-sectional area of the valve head 422 which is larger than the cross-sectional area of the top portion 409, with which the flat base portion 417 of the annular rim 418 is capable of entering in abutting relationship, thereby defining the maximum loosened position of cap 410 with regard to the spout member 401, bearing in mind that the maximum aperture of the valve member 421 is determined by the foot portions 426. The product to be discharged will pass through the opening 420 between the anchoring legs 425 and then through the crown sectional openings defined between the pairs of ears 427, towards outside through the perforated top 413 of the cap 410. The anchoring legs 425 have outwardly projecting spaced apart, teeth 428 which are extremely resilient but tend to maintain the valve member in an adopted position, so that in case products are used in the tube 419 which are rather of the fluid type it is avoided that the valve member 421 tends to fall back onto the top portion 409 by its own weight, as is possible in the embodiment of FIG. 4.

In addition, in case a rather heavy pasty product is used and upon tightening the cap 410 on the tubular spout member 401, the product which at this instant is located in the space 429 has time to flow back into the container as the valve head 422 is pressed back onto the top portion 409 by the pressure which the sloped top portion 412 of the cap 410 exerts on the frustoconical top portion 423 of the valve head 422. By comparing FIGS. 5 and 6, the foregoing explanation will be readily understood.

In all the embodiments so far described the cap 10, 110, 210, 310 and 410 is screwed on the tubular spout member 1, 101, 201, 301 and 401, respectively. It is not an essential requirement that these two members are linked by means of a screw threaded connection. In FIG. 8, wherein the prefix 500 has been used, the tubular spout member 501 has a socket portion 503 including in this embodiment a pair of spaced apart annular recesses 530, 531 and the skirt portion 511 of the cap 510 has adjacent its lower end and annular rim 532, so that by moving cap 510 upwardly with regard to the position shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to remove rim 532 from lower annular recess 530 and allow said rim 532 to snap into recess 531, thereby refining the maximum open position. If desired, obviously intermediate annular recesses between said recesses 530 and 531 can be provided or any other kind of frictional connection between the tubular spout member 501 and the cap 510.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes can be made in the design and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

I claim:

A closure cap device for a container, comprising a tubular spout member having a socket portion defining a first open end, said socket portion being at least partially externally screw threaded, a side wall member integral with said socket portion and having a cross-sectional area smaller than said socket portion, said side wall member defining a second opening, a valve member slidably anchored in said side wall member and capable of closing said second opening, said valve member including a tapered head portion, a perforated cap screwed onto said socket member and surrounding said side wall member and at least part of said tapered head portion and a sealing lip surrounding said side wall member and being integral with said sealing cap and in sealing contact with said side Wall member, said valve member having a valve head including a frustoconical top portion and a flat bottom rim, the maximum cross-sectional area of said valve heading being smaller than the cross-sectional area of said side wall member, said side wall member having a flat top portion defining said second opening, said flat bottom rim being adapted to enter in sealing contact with said flat top portion, at least a pair of spaced apart anchoring legs projecting from said flat bottom rim into said tubular spout member through said second opening, said anchoring legs including foot portions adapted to enter in abutting relationship with said flat top portion, said spaced apart anchoring legs having projecting spaced apart resilient teeth adapted to mesh with said top portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,200,390 10/1916 Morin 215-42 1,488,969 4/1924 Babinet 215-74 2,582,224 1/1952 Broadway 215-76 2,877,918 3/1959 Gardener 215-74 2,886,219 5/1959 Van Baarn 222-521 3,032,240 5/1962 Dunklee 215-74 3,123,259 3/1964 Musel et al. 222-521 3,131,836 5/1964 Van Baarn 222-521 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. R. PESHOCK, Assistant Examiner. 

